Help!!!! Medical Diagnosis Question Needed ASAP!~~Sorry for abbreviations, but this is a long one! Thank u!?
Hi Jody:
You have complex symptoms, which are nevertheless nonspecific. Many of your complaints are subjective but there are a few objective complaints that are concerning enough to strongly advise you to seek professional help rather than any advice here. These symptoms include your nightly low-grade fevers, swollen lymph nodes, night sweats, and to some extent your history of arthritis. If you have additionally experienced weight loss, and I would even be more concerned.
Your gender and age increase the likelihood of autoimmune disorders. However, there are other non-autoimmune/rheumatological disorders that may present with your complaints. Although statistically much less likely, I feel obligated to mention that the differential diagnostic list includes infectious diseases and even potentially malignant ones such as lymphomas.
I think you need to be seen by specialists that will likely include an internal medicine doctor to begin with, likely followed by a rheumatologist, and depending on further findings and impressions, either an infectious disease specialist or a hematologist/oncologist.
Please be weary of recommendations suggesting chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and the like, until you have been fully evaluated. Unfortunately, there are people who are so subspecialized, who might subsequently diagnose you with one of these chronic conditions, and as a direct result of their super sub-specialization miss other potentially serious conditions. Initial treatment of your non-specific complaints with a variety of pharmacologic agents may indeed bring about subjective improvement, but it would not address the underlying cause of your problems.
I do not think that you would benefit from my long laundry-list of more specific potential possibilities. When all you have is a hammer, then everything starts looking like a nail. This can sometime happen when you go to see certain super-subspecialists too early during the course of your diagnostic workup.
It is a good idea to start with the internal medicine specialist as you are already planning to do. However, do not get fixated on any specific disease as yet. Your own subjective impressions have a significant impact and can even set your doctors off-course.
All the best!
Help!!!! Medical Diagnosis Question Needed ASAP!~~Sorry for abbreviations, but this is a long one! Thank u!?
I still think you have Fibromylagia which is an autoimmune disease based on the symptoms you mentioned. I myself have been on the merry-go-round with drs and specialists to rule out differential diagnoses. I do have sinus problems, migraines, CFS, and the like. Symptomatic tx is the best!
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Try a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (google it and see who does it in your area) to determine whether any mineral imbalances or heavy metal exposure may be causing your symptoms, although it does sound viral. It's worth a try and does give really good insight into what's going on in your body.
hello,, been tested for lyme disease?west nile?
Have you our Dr or you consider Fibromylagia?
The defining symptoms of fibromyalgia are chronic, widespread pain and tenderness to light touch, and usually moderate to severe fatigue. Those affected may also experience heightened sensitivity of the skin (also called allodynia), tingling of the skin (often needle-like), achiness in the muscle tissues, prolonged muscle spasms, weakness in the limbs, and nerve pain. Chronic sleep disturbances are also characteristic of fibromyalgia -- and not just from discomfort: some studies suggest that these sleep disturbances are the result of a sleep disorder called alpha-delta sleep , a condition in which deep sleep (associated with delta EEG waves) is frequently interrupted by bursts of brain activity similar to wakefulness (i.e. alpha waves). Deeper stages of sleep (stages 3 %26amp; 4) are often dramatically reduced.
In addition, many patients experience cognitive dysfunction (known as %26quot;brain fog%26quot; or %26quot;fibrofog%26quot;), which may be characterized by impaired concentration and short-term memory consolidation, impaired speed of performance, inability to multi-task, and cognitive overload.[9][10] Many experts suspect that %26quot;brain fog%26quot; is directly related to the sleep disturbances experienced by sufferers of fibromyalgia. However, the relationship has not been strictly established.
Other symptoms often attributed to fibromyalgia (possibly due to another comorbid disorder) may include myofascial pain syndrome, chronic paresthesia, physical fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, genitourinary symptoms (such as those associated with the chronic bladder condition interstitial cystitis), dermatological disorders, headaches, myoclonic twitches, and symptomatic hypoglycemia. Although it is common in people with fibromyalgia for pain to be widespread, it may also be localized in areas such as the shoulders, neck, back, hips, or other areas. Many sufferers also experience varying degrees of temporomandibular joint disorder. Not all patients have all symptoms.
Fibromyalgia can, but does not always, start as a result of some trauma (such as a traffic accident), major surgery, or disease. Some evidence shows that Lyme Disease may be a trigger of fibromyalgia symptoms in some individuals.
However, there is currently no known strong correlation between any specific type of trigger and the subsequent initiation of symptoms. Symptoms can have a slow onset, and many patients have mild symptoms beginning in childhood, that are often misdiagnosed as growing pains. Symptoms are often aggravated by unrelated illness or changes in the weather.
They can become more tolerable or less tolerable throughout daily or yearly cycles; however, many people with fibromyalgia find that, at least some of the time, the condition prevents them from performing normal activities such as driving a car or walking up stairs. The syndrome does not cause inflammation as is present in rheumatoid arthritis, although some anti-inflammatory treatments, such as Ibuprofen and Iontophoresis, may temporarily reduce pain symptoms in some patients.
Variability of symptoms
The following factors have been proposed to exacerbate symptoms of pain in patients:
Increased psychosocial stress
Excessive physical exertion (exercise seems to decrease the pain threshold of people with Fibromyalgia but increase it in healthy individuals)
Lack of slow-wave sleep
Changes in humidity and baromic pressure
Diagnosis
A history of widespread pain lasting more than three months鈥攁ffecting all four quadrants of the body, i.e., both sides, and above and below the waist.
Tender points鈥攖here are 18 designated possible tender points (although a person with the syndrome may feel pain in other areas as well).
Differentials
A number of other disorders can produce essentially the same symptoms as fibromyalgia. Other disorders known to produce similar symptoms are:
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Depression
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Gulf War syndrome
Influenza
Lead poisoning
Lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Lyme disease
Mercury toxicity
Myofascial pain syndrome
Tendonitis
Tension myositis syndrome
Thyroid disease
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency
Whiplash-associated disorder
Treatment
As with many other disorders, there is no universally accepted cure for fibromyalgia, though some physicians claim to have found cures.
Medications
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Traditionally, low doses of sedating antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline and trazodone) have been used to reduce the sleep disturbances that are associated with fibromyalgia.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Standard clinical doses of newer anti-depressants (SSRIs) like Citalopram (Celexa) have demonstrated good efficacy in some cases of Fibromyalgia.
Anti-seizure drugs
Anti-seizure drugs are also sometimes used, such as gabapentin and pregabalin (Lyrica). Pregabalin, was originally prescribed for the nerve pain in DM.
Dopamine agonists
Dopamine agonists, such as Mirapex, are now being studied and used to treat fibromyalgia.
Combination therapy
Amitriptyline and fluoxetine can be combined according to a randomized crossover study
The symptoms that you describe are common to many, and some, different conditions. Mostly, those of a viral nature. Some that come to mind are - a depressive disorder, this is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. However, you have stated that this is already affecting you. Fibromyalgia 鈥?Chronic fatigue syndrome. Lyme disease. There is a condition called 鈥榚lectro hypersensitivity鈥?鈥?which is a long shot, but would make interesting reading. This link has the Swedish book translated into English -
www.feb.se/feb/blackonwhite-
complete-book.pdf .
Your symptoms are many and it is impossible to make a serious diagnosis with the facts that you give, without conducting many different tests. Your impending appointment would presumably facilitate this.
Hope this helps
matador 89
It sounds like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I friend of the family has it. Get tested for allergies, autoimmune disorders, amino acid analysis ( 70 disorders of amino acids dysfunction), urinary prophyrin ( check for exposure to mercury /metal-- the metals stay detected in the blood for only 2 months),. I fear it is an autoimmune disorder. Get treated by a chiropractor for the cervical spine problems before the disc degenerates-- not all chiropractors are quacks. The blurred vision and sinus problems point to the cervical spine problems. My co-worker actually has to undergoe IV treatments to shut off the autoimmune response. You might want to consider using an Infrared Red Sauna-- chemical poisoning will only come out if the body sweats it out. Make sure you wipe off the sweat continuously. Autoimmune disorders are certainly caused by exposure to toxic chemicals/ metals. Eat organic foods and change all chemicals in your house ( including hygiene) to %26quot;green%26quot; ones. I hope you feel much better. If your doctor doesn't help try a holistic approach.
Could possibly be arsenic poisoning. Do you have a wooden deck on your home? Most treated lumber before 2004 was treated with arsenic. If not sealed twice a year, it's possible that arsenic could get into your body (not a certainty that it will, but it's possible).
Hi Im chris, I am a cowowener of an autoimmune support group. It does not really fit a true Lupus case, at this point. But may fit somthing called Sjogren's. an autoimmune That can cause arthritic pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, fever, joint pain, memory issues called brain fog, and migranes. But it aslo would usually come with Positive ANA. But they can test other things like your tear production, and several other things. There are also other possibilities. Like Chronic fatigue syndrom, while theres no exact testing for it, it can be a possibility. And cause all those symptoms. I have disc issues, of buldging, and nerve damage. they can set a whole host of problems into action, and not just autoimmune, that can be causing some of these symptoms. Fot that I suggest a pain specialist. Surgery helps very few. But a pain mgt specialist helped me greatly. In the case of lupus you'd have to meet at least 4 of 11 critera, I see maybe a couple at this point, but a couple indicators. Ive been diagnosed with that sjogrens and 2 others for over 12 years, and finding them can take years, and full manifisation can take quite awhile. My autoimmunes also started with exsessive sleep, cognitive issues, Ive always had sinus problems, but the migrans and blurred vision. But the thing is you need to see a rhuemotologist, a bak specialist, and a pain management specialist. Fibromyalgia is also a possibility, if you have widespread muscle pain, and 13 of 18 tender points. The back issues, can be causing many of these problems. Thats not unusal, the back is important in helping our entire systems to work properly.
Try setting appoitments with these specialist, Pain Mgt, Rhuemotologist, and a spine/back specialist, and see what happens.
Also titers for Autoimmunes can change sometimes daily. So the first set may not be of much use, they may need tewsting several times, mine were done 3 times before the autoimmune panal came back positive, it changes from lab to lab.
Good Luck jodi
Your symptoms could belong to lots of different conditions, but it sounds to me like you should definitely be evaluated for Lyme disease and co-infections. You said you had a Lyme test. Be advised: the standard Lyme test (ELISA) is known to have a very high false negative rate. Many Lyme-literate doctors consider it practically worthless. And it doesn't do anything to detect what are called %26quot;co-infections%26quot;--other bad things the tick can give you when it gives you the Lyme.
You need to get to a doctor affiliated with ILADS--the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. They have experience evaluating people with situations like yours--and figuring out whether it's indeed caused by Lyme, or if you need to look in a different direction.
I recommend that you go to www.lymenet.com, click on %26quot;flash discussions%26quot; and then click on %26quot;finding a doctor.%26quot; You can post a query stating where you live, and other members will notify you about Lyme docs in your area.
You might also join in some of the discussions on-line. Lymenet is made up of thousands of people who have experienced symptoms similar to yours, and have addressed them in various ways. Some people go with mainstream antibiotics, others do herbs and other alternative remedies.
I know that researching your disease when you are feeling like %26amp;*^%$! is extremely difficult. If you can't do it yourself, maybe a family member or friend could help you?
Good places to start learning:
www.lymenet.com
www.lymeinfo.net
www.lymediseaseassociation.org
www.ilads.org
www.betterheatlhguy.com
www.publichealthalert.com
